Hydraulic steering mechanism.



No. 699,45I. Patented May 6, |902.

J. CHRISTENSEN.

HYDRAULIC STEERING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Nov. 15, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented May 6, |902.

3 Sheets-She'et 2.

J. CHRISTENSEN. HYDRAULIC STEERING MEGHANISM. (Application led' Nov. 15, 1901.)

Nu. 699,45l.

(No Model.)

No. 699,45l.

Patented May 6, |902.

J. CHHISTENSEN.

HYDRAULIC STEERING MECHANISM.

(Application tiled Nov. 15, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Artnr Orifice.i

JORGEN CHRISTENSEN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

HYDRAULIC STEERING MECHANISIVI.

SPEGIFCATIOQ forming part of Letters Patent No. 699,451, dated May 6, 1902.

Application filed November l5, 1901. Serial No. 82,402. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom', t iii/wy concern.-

Be it known that l, JORGEN CHRIsTsNsEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Hydraulic Steering and Counterbalance Mechanisms; and l hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in hydraulic steering devices. Its object is to relieve the steering-gear of a ship of the sudden strain and shocks to which it is subjected by the action of the waves upon the rudder and to provide an automatically-operating brake whereby the movement of the rudder is limited independently of the steersman.

It consists in the combination, with liquidbalance cylinders having their piston-rods connected with a yoke on the rudderstock, of connections between the cylinders whereby the fluid may iiow from one cylinder to the other when the pistons are reciprocated,

valves whereby sudden and excessive strains on the rudder and cylinders are relieved, novel connections between the cylinders and a source of fluid-supply, a steering mechan-l ism by which fluid from the supply-tank may be admitted to the cylinders to actuate thel rudder, an indicator by which the position of the rudder is shown, a segment carried on the rudder-stock, connections between the segment and indicator, and means whereby the rudder acts automatically to close the valves controlling the flow of fluid to the cylinders, and so limit the movement of the rudder beyond a certain point in either direction.

It also comprises details which will loe more fully set forth hereinafter, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a general view of steering system, shown in elevation and parts thereof in sections. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cylinders and connections. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the arrangement when Worked by hand-power. Figt is a detail of the relief -valves and their connections. Fig. 5 shows the conducting of the iiuid through the pivot in the form of an elbow-pipe. Fig. G is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an end View of the same. Fig. 8 shows the cylinders being` attached tothe rudder-post in a continuous straight line. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through one of the posts of Fig. 8, showing still another method of effecting the connection for the fluid through the pivot-post.

A represents the rudder-stock,to which is secured the yoke 2. TheV ends of the yoke are pivotally connected to the piston-rods 3 of the cylinders 4. The other end of each of these cylinders is connected to a fixed pivot 5, so that the cylinders adjust themselves to the oscillation of the yoke and rudder. Each cylinderis provided with a projection 56 on the under side, which is adapted to rest and slide upon a block 57 when the cylinders are oscillated ,whereby the latter are suitably supported intermediate of their pivots and the yoke, and thus prevented from sagging. The cylinders are filled with a fluid, as oil, received under high pressure from a suitable source of supply, as will be described later. This fluid may be admitted to the cylinders through the pivots in a variety'of Ways.

In Fig. 1 the cylinder-head has anextension 6, in Which'is formed a chamber 7. The latter and the cylinder-chamber are connected by a passage 8. The ends of this extension are formed With trunnions secured in suitable bearings on the post 5. A pipe 9 opens into either of the chambers '7, and suitable stufting-boxes 10 preserve a, tight joint and prevent anyescape of theliquid, at the same time allowing the cylinders to oscillate freely about their pivots and the ends of the pipe 9.

Oil is fed to and exhausted from the cylinders through one or the other of the pipes 11. These latter enterthe pipe 9 separately. Between the points of entrance thereto the pipe 9 is provided with two corresponding branches 12, in each of which latter is interposed a relief-valve 13. Each valve is held to its seat by a spring 14E, so that the valves only lift when an extraordinary pressure is exerted in one or the other of the cylinders and branches. These valves are adaptedto openonly as the pressure is exerted from alternate directions in the pipe 9. A stop-cock 15 is disposed in the pipe 9 intermediate of the ends of the branches 12 and is us ually closed, so that communication betweenthe two cylinders takes place only through one or the other of the valves. The cock would only be opened in case it is desired to operate the rudder Without the-use of hydraulic force, in which case the cylinders would serve merely as a counterbalance mechanism. As the fluid is forced into one or the other of the cylinder-chambers a to drive one or the other of the pistons to actuate the rudder the other chamber exhausts through its corresponding pipe 11. If an extraordinary blow should be dealt the rudder by the waves, the strain may be equalized by the opening of one or the other of the valves 13, so that fluid may flow to the opposite cylinder. The pipes 11 lead to a chamber 16, in which a slide-valve 17 is operable.

18 is astorage-tank in which the fluid, as oil, is retained under high pressure, usually about two hundred and fifty pounds per square inch. A pipe 19 connects the tank and valvechamber. l

The valve 17 is so constructed in relation to the ports 20, leading to the pipes 11, that when at rest in its central position it does not completely cover either port, but leaves the exhaust-passage 21 closed. The smallest amount of travel of the valve will close one port and bring it into communication with the exhaust, while the other port Will admit the fluid under pressure to its corresponding cylinders 4. By the two ports 2O being normally open and the exhaust-port closed the pressure in the hydraulic cylinders 4 is equalized, compensation for sudden shocks to the ruddersay above two hundred and fty pounds-being made through the valves 13, as before described.

The exhaust from the port 21 may discharge oil or other liquid into the tank or reservoir 22, whence it is taken up by the pumps 23 and returned to the storage-tank 18 and may be used over and over.

The mode of operation ofthe valve 17 is as follows: I have shown a tiller-wheel 24, secured upon a shaft 25, which carries a sleeve 26. The latter is rotatable in suitable bearings on the support 27, and the adjacent peripheries of the shaft and sleeve are threaded, so that the two parts are movable independently of each other and the shaft is movable longitudinally in relation to the sleeve. The longitudinal movement of the shaft actuates a bel-l-erank lever 28, which is pivoted to the support 27. The other end of the lever2S is connected by suitable links 29 with a short lever 30 ofthe second class, disposed in proper relation to the valve-chamber 1G. One end of this latter lever is connected by a rod 31 with the valve 17, and the other end is pivoted to a channeled block 32, which latter is slidable in the fixed guides 33. The ends of the block are supported within these guides by means of springs 34. These springs are stiff enough so as ordinarily to offer a firm fulcrum-point or seat in opposition to the tension exerted bythe links 29 and crank-lever 28 when the shaft-of the tiller-wheel is moved in or out. The tensionof the springs 34 sufficient to withstand such pressure is not necessarily very great, as the object of the levers and links mentioned is merelyy to move the slide-valve 17, so as to admit fluid to one or the other of the cylinders.

In order to arrest the movement ofthe rudder before it has swung so far in one direction or the other as to endanger the gearing or threaten to wreck it, I have devised an automatic brake and indicating mechanism, as follows: The rudder-stock carries a toothed segment 35, and through a suitable arrangement of bevel-gears 36 motion is imparted to a horizontal shaft 37. The latter carries a bevel-gear 38, which engages a corresponding gear on a vertical shaft 39. The latter carries a bevel-gear 40, meshing a gear 41, fixed on the sleeve 26. Above this a system of gears 42 is adapted to operate an indicator 43, which always shows the relative position of the rudder.

The lower end of' the shaft 39 is threaded and carries a nut 44, which has a projection 45, engaging inthe channel in the block 32. The nut has thus-only a vertical movement. A certain space above and below the projection 45 is allowed in the-block, and the distance of travel of the projection in this space indicates the relative movement within safe limits of the rudder. When the rudder approaches hard-aboard on either side, the nut will be carried upward or downward to strike the ends of the block. The movement of the nut ispowerful enough to overcome the tension of the springs 34, and the lever 30 becomes a leverof the rst class, whose fulcrum is the end of the link or rod 29. A movement of the lever acts on the valve 17 to check the flow of oil to or from the cylinders and brings these to a state of equilibrium as to pressure, whereupon the rudder ceases to tu rn independent of any act of the helmsman.

Reverting again to the construction of the cylinders,l have shown various ways by which fluid may be admitted thereto and by which it can be transferred from one cylinder to the other. Fig. 1 showed open-ended cylinders. In Fig. 3 the cylinders are constructed to containoilon either sideof thepiston. Theends of each cylinder may be connected by a channel 4G, through which the oil passes, and the piston-rods slide in suitable stuffing-boxes 47 in the ends of the cylinders. The chambers a of the two cylinders are connected by a pipe 9, similar to that described in the foregoing part of vthis specification, whereby the fluid may flow from one cylinder to the other. In Figs. 5, 6, 7, S, and 9 each of the cylinders 4' has a hollow extension (3v at the other end carrying a sleeve Gf?, which is turnable about a fixed hollow pivot 5, so that the cylinders are adjustable to the oscillations of the yoke and rudder. In these cases the fluid is admitted to the cylinder-chambers ct through the hollow pivots and cylinder-head extensions. In Fig. 5 is shown an elbow 53, having one endl terminating inthe cylinder and the other end turnable in bearings 54 in the IIO ends ofthe supply-pipes 112. The outer ends of the two cylinders are connected by means of pipes 48 and 49. As the liquid is forced into one or the other of the chambers d to drive one or the other of the pistons to actuate the rudder the liquid in the corresponding rear chamber a is driven thence through the port 50 and short vertical pipe-section 5l into the pipes 4S and 49 and to the chamber a' of the opposite cylinder. The pipes 48 have suitable pivotal connections 52 at either end to accommodate them to the oscillation of t-he cylinders.

In order to provide for the proper lubrication of the pivots 5, made difficult by reason of the limited movement ot the sleeves thereabout, I may form longitudinal and circumferential grooves on the periphery of the pivots. 55 is an oil-cup through which the lubricant is fed into these grooves.

Instead of the cylinders being parallel they may lie approximately in line with each other, as shown in Figs. S and 9, and their pistonrods connected to a single arm 2 on the rudder-stock. Fluid would be fed to the cylinder-.chambers through the pivots 5a from the supply-pipe 11b. The cylinder-head is provided with a port S, registering with a transverse channel or slot S", which opens into the hollow portion 7 of the pivot. The cylinders are connected by a pipe 9, similar to pipe 9, Figs. l and 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination in a steering mechanism of hydraulic cylinders pivoted at one end, and having connections through said end with a fluid-supply, means connecting the pivot end of one cylinder with the like end of a second cylinder whereby the fluid may How from one cylinder to the other, a rudder-stock with which the piston-rods of said cylinders are connected, a source ot' Huid-supply, means by which the admissionof iuid to the cylinder is controlled, and means whereby the movement of the rudder is limited automatically.

2.v The combination in a steering mechanism of hydraulic cylinders, connections between said cylinders having connection through one end with a source of fluid-supply, means connecting the end of one cylinder with a corresponding end ot another cylinder whereby the fluid may How from one cylinder to the other, and a rudder-stock, a Source of fluid-supply in conjunction with said cylinders, means for controlling the.admission and exhaust of said cylinders, and means whereby the movement of the rudder beyond a certain point in either direction is controlled automatically and independent of the operator.

3. The combination in a steering mechanism of oscillating hydraulic cylinders, having connection through their pivot ends with a source of fluid-supply, and means connecting the cylinders whereby the Huid may flow from one cylinder to the other, pistons reciprocable Within said cylinders, piston-rods connected with the stock of the rudder, means for controlling the flow to and from said cylinders whereby the pistons are actuated to move the rudder, and means upon the rudderstock whereby said iiow maybe automatically checked when the rudder has swung a certain distance in either direction.

4. The combination in a steering mechanism ot oscillating cylinders having connection through their pivot ends with a source of fluid-supply, pipes or passages connecting the pivot end of one cylinder with a like end of a second cylinder whereby the iiuid may How from one cylinder to the other, pistons movable within the cylinders, piston-rods connected with the rudder-stock, a source of fluid-supply, means for controlling the admission and exhaust of iiuid to the cylinders, a segment carried on the rudder-stock, gearing with which said segment engages and connections between said gearing and the means controlling said admission and exhaust whereby said flow of liquid may be checked automatically.

5. The combination in a steering mechanism of hydraulic cylinders having their pistons connected with the rudder-stock, said cylinders having their pivot ends connected with a source of fluid-supply, and means connecting the pivot end of one cylinder with a like end ot' a second cylinder, for transferring the iiuid from one cylinder to the other, a source of duid-supply, a valve by which the flow of fluid to and from the cylinders is controlled, a tiller-wheel, connections between said tiller-wheel and valve, connections between the rudder-stock and said valve-operating mechanism whereby the valve may be actuated automatically and independently of the tiller-wheel.

6. The combination in a steering mechanism of hydraulic cylinders operatively connected with the rudder-stock, said cylinders having their pivot ends connected with a source of fluid-supply, and means connecting the pivot end of one cylinder with a like end of a second cylinder, for transferring the fluid from one cylinder to the other, supplypipes for said cylinders, a source of fluidsupply, a valve by which the flow of fluid through said pipes is controlled,a tiller-Wheel, a shaft upon which said Wheel is fixed, said shaft having a rotatable and longitudinal movement, a bell-cranklever engaging therewith, connecting-rods between said lever and `said. valve, a segment on the rudder-shaft,

gearing and connections between said segment and said rods whereby the valve may be moved independently of the movement of the bell-crank tiller-wheel shaft.

7. In a hydraulic steering apparatus, the combination ot' a tiller-wheel, a shaft upon which said wheel is flxed,a rotatable sleeve, said shaft and sleeve being independently turnable and said shaft capable, also, of a lon- IOO IIO

gitudinal movement, connections between the rudder-stock and said sleeve whereby the latter is turned as the rudder moves and an indicator operated by the movement of the sleeve which indicator shows the relative position of the rudder.

S. Inasteeringmechanism,the combination of hydraulic cylinders, supply-pipes entering said cylinders, a valve by which the flow through said pipes is controlled, a tillerwheel, a shaft upon which said wheel is iixed, a sleeve inclosing and turnable independently of said shaft, said shaft having a movement longitudinally in relation to said sleeve, a bell-crank lever adapted to be actuated by the longitudinal movement ot` the shaft, connecting rods between said lever and the above-mentioned valve, said rods intermediately connected to a short lever having one endpivoted to a slidable block, resilient supports for said block and connections between the rudder and said block whereby the latter is moved to actuate said valve automatically.

9. A steering mechanism consisting in combination of oscillating cylinders, pistons movable therein, piston-rods connected with the rudder, Huid-supply pipes entering the cylinders, a valve by which the iiow through said pipes is regulated, means for operating said valve, a segment carried by the rudderstock, an indicator, connections between said segment and indicator whereby the latter is moved to show the relative position of the rudder, a traveling nut carried by said connecting means, said nut adapted to engage the valve-operating mechanism to move said valve automatically.

l0. In a steering mechanism, the combination of hydraulic cylinders pivoted at one end and having their piston-rods connected with lthe stock of a rudder, passages formed in the pivot-s through which fluid is admitted to the cylinders and connections between the cylinders whereby fluid may flow from one cylinder to the other.

1l. In a steering mechanism the combination of oscillating cylinders, pistons movable therein, piston-rods connected with a yoke on the rudder-stock, means for admitting iiuid to-said cylinders to move their pistons, pipes connecting the cylinders and valvcsin said pipes which are adapted to be opened and allow iiuid to pass from one cylinder to the other when excessive pressure is exerted in either of said cylinders.

l2. In a steering mechanism the combination of oscillating hydraulic cylinders operatively connected with the rudder-stock, said cylinders having connections through their pivot ends and their pivots with a source of fluid-supply, connecting-pipes between the cylinders, and relief-valves in said pipes.

13. In a hydraulic steeringmechanism the combination of cylinders pivoted at one end and havinor their piston-rods connected with a yoke on the rudder-stock, a hollow extension on the pivot end of each cylinder and communicating with the cylinder-chamber, sleeves on said extensions turnable about the pivots ot' the cylinders, a passage-way in each` of said pivots, in continuous register with the channels in said extension, a pipe connecting said passage-ways, relief-valves interposed in said pipe, and supply-pipes entering said connecting-pipe on either side of said valves.

14. A hydraulic steering mechanism consisting in combination of oscillating cylinders having their piston-rods operatively connected with the rudder-stock, communications between the cylinder-chambers and a source ot' fluid-supply through the pivots of the cylinders, said source of supply comprising a pressure-reservoir, a valve-chamber, pipes leading from said reservoir and to said cylinders, a slide-valve controlling the fiow through the latter pipes, said valve adapted when in a central position between the ports leading to said pipes to uncover each port slightly, and means by which said valve may be moved to admit or discharge iiuid to or from the cylinders.

l5. A hydraulic steering mechanism consisting in combination ot oscillating cylinders having their piston-rods operatively connected with the rudder-stock, communications between said cylinders and a source of supply, a slide-valve by which the iiow of fluid to the cylinders is controlled, a rod attached to said valve, a short lever to which the other end of the rod is pivoted, a' resiliently-supported and slidable block to which the other end of the lever is pivoted, a tiller-wheel, a shaft upon which said wheel is fixed, connections between said lever and wheel whereby said lever may be actuated to operate the valve by the movement of the wheel, a trip member operable by the movement of the rudder, said member adapted to engage lthe aforesaid block when the rudder has swung a certain distance in either direction, said engagement serving to move the before -m'entioned valve independently of the operation of the tiller and so automatically check the tlow of fluid to the cylinders.

16. In a hydraulic steering mechanism, the combination ot cylinders pivoted at one end, pistons movable in said cylinders, piston-rods connected with a yoke on the rudder-stock, channels formed in the pivots, and passages in the cylinder-heads connecting said channels and the cylinder-chambers through which fluid may be delivered to and discharged from said chambers.

IOC

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JORGEN CHRISTENSEN.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, JEssIE C. BRODIE. 

